Secondary School Teacher Training - Ireland.. or UK??

Squall Leonhart

Hi there,

I have an honours degree in Architectural Technology. An area in which there is not likely to be work for a long time in Ireland.

I am strongly considering training as a secondary school teacher (to be based in Ireland). I have checked www.teachingcouncil.ie for their list of approved degrees from which you can make the transition to a second level teacher.

Maybe not so surprisingly, B.Sc Architectural Technology is not listed there.

Can anybody suggest where to go from here? I'm not 100% sure about what I would teach, but possible candidates would be English, mathematics, geography, technical graphics.

Does anybody have knowledge or experience of where I should check from here, either in Ireland or England?

Thanks,

Paul

kevohmsford

I would suggest training for teaching in the Uk. There are way too many qualified English teachers here and not enough jobs for them. Maths would be a good area to go into.

delta_bravo

Do you intend on doing another undergrad degree or teaching with your bsc? Aside from tech graph or technology it's unlikely you would be qualified to teach any other subjects. Technology is a new lc subject so there are some jobs in it from what I can see in the papers

whiteandlight

To qualify to teach in Ireland in any subject you must hold a degree recognised by the teaching council. I'm not sure what you are suggesting about the subjects you've mentioned. Unless you went and did further degree modules agreed between you and the TC you cannot teach in Ireland, nor would you get onto the PGDE program.
Regarding England you would need to find out does your degree qualify you to teach any subject over there. If it does then that would be the route to go. If it doesn't you are in the same boat as here, you need to go back and do a degree, before you could do the teacher training.

Squall Leonhart

Musicmental85 wrote: »

If it doesn't you are in the same boat as here, you need to go back and do a degree, before you could do the teacher training.

When you say go back and do a degree, I really hope it doesn't mean that I would have to go back and complete another full 4 year degree course? I understand if there are 'bridging' modules or extra modules to do in addition to a H Dip (or equivalent), but couldn't really handle another full term in college from the beginning..

gaeilgebeo

Paul Cosgrave wrote: »

When you say go back and do a degree, I really hope it doesn't mean that I would have to go back and complete another full 4 year degree course? I understand if there are 'bridging' modules or extra modules to do in addition to a H Dip (or equivalent), but couldn't really handle another full term in college from the beginning..

And how else do you think you will be qualified to teach English, Geography or Maths?

delta_bravo

Paul Cosgrave wrote: »

When you say go back and do a degree, I really hope it doesn't mean that I would have to go back and complete another full 4 year degree course? I understand if there are 'bridging' modules or extra modules to do in addition to a H Dip (or equivalent), but couldn't really handle another full term in college from the beginning..

Only if your original undergrad degree bears some relevance to the extra modules. I would fairly safely say there is no way you can officially teach geography or english with your current degree and no bridging courses will qualify you.

I suggest you investigate your ability to teach TG and Tech (think its called DCG).

mimmi

You will find England more flexible on entry, in that they will look at the content of the degree in a general way in terms of how it relates to the curriculum - at least 50% of content must be relatable to a curriculum subject. E.g. a degree in American Studies would enable you to teach History if you can show how its content has an orientation to history.

Your degree is more relateable to Design & Technology - this has a range of topics, so you would need to do some research on colleges with PGCEs that focus on C&D in away that fits with your degree.

GTTR is the central clearing house for PGCE applications and vacancies, it's worth spending time on thier website and research the colleges and content of courses.

www.gttr.ac.uk

I did a quick search re secondary and DT - here's a list, drill down into each piece of college information.

http://search.gttr.ac.uk/cgi-bin/hsrun.hse/General/gttr_search/StateId/QzSaKwdeQXqGYSq0uLsPSnAhD1Rny-VlLN/HAHTpage/gttr_search.HsForm.mapFormToCmd?cboAge=S&cboSubject=W9&cboInst=0&cboType=0&cboLevel=0&button1=search&cboDegree=0&cboExam=0

The Initial Teacher Training colleges individually decide if your degree meets the requirement, no TC in England.

They will look for strong motivation for teaching - workshadowing/observation plus extra curricula activities - you have to write a personal statement as part of your application, this is very important. All applicants must attend an interview to be accepted.

Finally re Ireland - do you have first year maths in your degree? If yes, then the TC is allowing people to 'top up' in this area.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056306696

I think maths is a good subject for England too and there is still a shortage of teachers, particulalry in the South. I doubt we have a shortage in Ireland right now in any subject - the whole teaching scene is going to be a challenge for new entrants for many years, but it's always been so at secondary level for the majority of teaching subjects.

rainbowtrout

Paul Cosgrave wrote: »

Hi there,

I have an honours degree in Architectural Technology. An area in which there is not likely to be work for a long time in Ireland.

I am strongly considering training as a secondary school teacher (to be based in Ireland). I have checked www.teachingcouncil.ie for their list of approved degrees from which you can make the transition to a second level teacher.

Maybe not so surprisingly, B.Sc Architectural Technology is not listed there.

Can anybody suggest where to go from here? I'm not 100% sure about what I would teach, but possible candidates would be English, mathematics, geography, technical graphics.

Does anybody have knowledge or experience of where I should check from here, either in Ireland or England?

Thanks,

Paul

You don't have a qualification in English, maths or geography so you can't teach any of those subjects. I'm not sure do you realise that you can't just teach any subject you want to if your degree is on the TC list. You can only teach the subject they deem you qualified in. If you want to teach English you will need an English degree.

Squall Leonhart

mimmi wrote: »

Finally re Ireland - do you have first year maths in your degree? If yes, then the TC is allowing people to 'top up' in this area.

Hi Mimmi, thank you for your supportive and detailed reply. I did do mathematics for 3 years as part of my course, yes.

rainbowtrout wrote:

]I'm not sure do you realise that you can't just teach any subject you want to if your degree is on the TC list. You can only teach the subject they deem you qualified in. If you want to teach English you will need an English degree.

I am obviously aware that I cannot just waltz into teaching something that I haven't studied, hence my questions about additional modules.

gaeilgebeo

Paul Cosgrave wrote: »

Hi Mimmi, thank you for your supportive and detailed reply. I did do mathematics for 3 years as part of my course, yes.



I am obviously aware that I cannot just waltz into teaching something that I haven't studied, hence my questions about additional modules.

You cannot do top up "modules" for subjects that you haven't studied at all!?

Squall Leonhart

OK People! I was wrong in what I was saying - apologies for my ignorance!!

rainbowtrout

Paul Cosgrave wrote: »

Hi Mimmi, thank you for your supportive and detailed reply. I did do mathematics for 3 years as part of my course, yes.



I am obviously aware that I cannot just waltz into teaching something that I haven't studied, hence my questions about additional modules.

The range of subjects you picked however are so diverse that it appeared like that.

mimmi

Paul Cosgrave wrote: »

Hi Mimmi, thank you for your supportive and detailed reply. I did do mathematics for 3 years as part of my course, yes.

I would suggest you consider applying to TC with this form:- http://www.teachingcouncil.ie/_fileupload/Application%20Forms/PPQA_02_75653204.pdf

Ask them to assess you for maths and technology - you will have to pay for this, but they will come back to you and clearly articulate any shortfall you may have, notably in the maths. You will then be more informed in terms of shortfall you'd need to make up.

Squall Leonhart

Thank you Mimmi, much obliged for your help. I'm a little strapped at the moment, but as soon as I get the €200, I think I'll make that assessment application.

cruizer101

You might be able to get into the Postgraduate Diploma in Education Technology in UL. There are two streams in this, one based towards metalwork and engineering the other is woodwork and construction. You'll also do tech drawing alongside.

If you look up the UL website you can get info on the course, will really need to contact the course coordinator to see if your degree is suitable, but probably should be. I'm doing the engineering metalwork route myself so can't give to much info but I know one of the constrction people has a degree in architecture.

The course runs for a year and a half as opposed to most H.Dip which are juts a year. Have a look and get in contact with UL sure and see, it I would say is about your only option in Ireland.

Squall Leonhart

Thanks very much for the tip, just going to check it out now..

whiteandlight

Paul Cosgrave wrote: »

When you say go back and do a degree, I really hope it doesn't mean that I would have to go back and complete another full 4 year degree course? I understand if there are 'bridging' modules or extra modules to do in addition to a H Dip (or equivalent), but couldn't really handle another full term in college from the beginning..

I think this has already been answered better but yes depending on how much the TC decide to recognise from your degree you might have quite a significant amount of modules/credits to make up. Probably not a four year course tho

Please note tho even if you qualify in england for the PGDE if you were to return here to teach at any stage you would need to register with the TC. If your plan is to teach here in future years you would be better to do the work now.

Also if you have not tried teaching second level students I would definitely try and get at least a few days subbing before you go changing career. Best of luck!